Hair loss
About 1 in 4 people, (both male and female) suffer from some form of hair loss by the age of 25.
There are various factors that play a part in hair loss and they can be divided into four basic categories:
- Mild androgenetic alopecia
- Severe androgenetic alopecia
- Due to underlying health conditions or medication
- Non-genetic hair loss
Further details of all four types of hair loss can be found below.
Mild androgenetic alopecia
A hormone DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is responsible for affecting hair follicles in genetically susceptible men and women. Testosterone is converted in the body by an enzyme 5-alpha-reductase into DHT. This DHT acts on the hair follicles causing them to shrink and also resulting in diminished hair strand quality.
With genetic hair loss, hair follicles will eventually get destroyed. Delaying treatment will affect hair growth as only active hair follicles can be stimulated for re-growth.
Severe androgenetic alopecia
This is the eventual result when mild androgenetic alopecia when not treated, reaches the advanced stage of hair loss. This happens when the shrinking hair follicles eventually ‘die’.
The pattern is typical of classic advance alopecia.
Underlying Health conditions or medication
Autoimmune diseases can cause ones own body to produce antibodies that attack the hair follicles and this results in patches of hair loss (alopecia areata) or even total hair loss.
Metabolic disorders, thyroid conditions, eating disorders, alcoholism/drug addiction amongst others can also cause hair loss.
Certain medications can also cause varying degree of hair loss as a side effect. Examples include chemotherapy medication and proton pump inhibitors.
Non-genetic hair loss
There are various lifestyle and environmental factors that can also contribute to hair loss. Some of these are:
- Infections
- Diet and nutrition
- Stress
- Damage from styling products and/or treatments
- Hair extensions and type of hairstyle
- Straightening irons and blow dryers.